Houstonian 1997 - Student Life. 1997. Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries. University of Houston Digital Library. Web. March 19, 2018. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/yearb/item/6374/show/6128.

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index.cpd

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Item Description

Title

Student Life

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yearb1997026.jpg

Transcript

Do you want
to be a liar, or do
you want to
serve with
integrity? That's
the question you
have to ask
yourself. 9 9
—Ben Fricke, Liberty Party
Otudents' Association Chief
Election Commissioner Nathan Masi
counts ballots in election headquarTERS. Natalie Merritt, Jon Erickson
and their houston party swept the
March 5 and 6 elections. Photo by:
Liz Carter
Lisa n. Chmiola
It may not have been sex, lies and videotape, but the 1997
Students' Association elections were filled with mudslinging, bitterness and televised debate.
Much like the 1996 elections, both parties waited until the Feb.
21 filing deadline to complete their ballots. But unlike last year, the
two parties were headed by members of the 33rd SA Administration.
The Houston Party ran Student Regent Natalie Merritt for president and Speaker of the Senate Jon Erickson for vice president.
"In order to do an effective job in this organization ... you have to
grow into the positions;' Erickson said. The Houston Partys platform concentrated on school spirit, athletics, financial aid, academic excellence and student service needs.
The Liberty Party (or Campaign Liberty) set campaign goals of
improving campus housing and student recruitment through
offering more incoming freshman scholarships. Education Sen.
Ben Fricke (president) and At-Large Sen. Monica guintero (vice
president) emphasized Cougar pride and integrity.
"Do you want to be a liar, or do you want to serve with integrity?
Thats the question you have to ask yourself;' Fricke said.
Campaign week kicked off Monday, March 3 with presidential
and vice presidential debates in the Cougar Den of the University
Center. In about the same amount of time one may have spent in
line for lunch upstairs in the American Cafe (15 minutes), the
veep candidates exchanged views on the campaign issues.
Erickson said he could see the need for minor student fee
increases, pointing out a recent UC fee increase for renovations
costing "about the price of a Happy Meal" per student.
Quintero agreed, saying, "I think there are certain areas on campus that could be aided by the increase of student fees;'
The presidential debate was slightly hotter, with the candidates
rebutting back and forth on issues and attacks. Fricke said he wanted
to concentrate on rewarding campus residents, while Merritt said she
wanted to improve services for commuters, which make up over 90
percent of UH students.
the debates was televised on the Student Video
Network Tuesday, March 4 at 10 p.m. A combined presidential and
vicepresidential debate, the exchange was the usual passing of the
politica pigskin until Fricke apparently fumbled on a question about
the controversty sUrrounding doctoral student Fabian Vaksman and the
apparently racist memos he had been sending to administrators.
continued on page 38
Student Life